Nowadays it feels like honeymooners are venturing farther than ever, returning with tales of trekking in Mongolia or cruising to Antarctica. But for actor (and Mad Men alum) Christina Hendricks and Hollywood camera operator George Bianchini, who met on the set of the NBC series Good Girls, a destination close to home in Los Angeles was just what they needed. “To be honest, we had a bit of decision fatigue after the wedding,” says Hendricks. “We just wanted to go somewhere warm and 100 percent relax.” They let their close friends decide the destination for them—and the Esperanza, Auberge Resorts Collection, in Cabo San Lucas, did not disappoint. Here, the couple, who married in New Orleans in April, extol the virtues of the classic fly-and-flop getaway. Besides, who can resist rose petals and a seaside dinner lit up by fireworks?
Seaside splendors
“I love swimming, so to have a pool next to the ocean—I just kept jumping into one and then the other. Being that close to the water was beautiful. It took my breath away. And one of the restaurants is right on the rocks, so the spray of the waves sometimes even misted the table. We loved it.”—George Bianchini
Grand gestures
“I surprised George with dinner on the beach. The hotel offered a mariachi band and a fireworks display. I joked, ‘This is going to be a Married at First Sight dinner with rose petals and everything.’ Well, they did do rose petals. And fireworks. But I didn’t order them. Maybe someone else did. I did spring for the musicians, who were fantastic. I thought it would be over-the-top and silly; it was over-the-top and absolutely amazing.”—Christina Hendricks
One-stop shop
“We ate mostly at the hotel because the food was so good. For every breakfast one of us would have the chilaquiles so we could share. For lunch we’d order poolside. We’d look at what other guests were eating, then tell the staff, ‘We’ll have what they’re having.’”—George Bianchini
Learning to let go
“We joked that I didn’t really relax until day three. At first I felt sort of guilty, like, Am I allowed to just relax and be this happy? I’m used to a lot of activity when I travel; I’m always still doing. The stunning setting let me unwind. It was really nice to turn off my phone and not do.”—Christina Hendricks
This article appeared in the December 2024 issue of Condé Nast Traveler. Subscribe to the magazine here.
